T 

B    X 

1373 

C38 

1880 

MAIN 


UC-NRLF 


SB    2fl 


GIFT  OF 
Class   of   1887 


PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES 


POPE  PIUS  IX. 


I 


A  TRIBUTE  OF  ESTEEM  AND  LOVE 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE 

SAINTLY    AND    GLORIOUS    PONTIFF, 

BY   ONE   OF   HIS   DEVOTED   AND   GRATEFUL   CHILDREN   IN   CHRIST, 

REV.  JOHN  F,  CASSIDY,  D.  D. 

( Gradunte  of  the  American  Collegt  at  Rowt.) 


PANEGYRIC  AT  THE  ANNIVERSARY  REQUIEM  OF  PIUS  ix.,  IN  ST.  ROSE'S  CHCRca, 

SACRAMENTO,   CAL. 


SAX     FRANCISCO: 

1880. 


t 


PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES 


POPE  PIUS  IX. 


A  TRIBUTE  OF  ESTEEM  AND  LOVE 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE 

SAINTLY    AND    GLORIOUS    PONTIFF, 

BY   ONE    OK    HIS    DEVOTED    AND    GRATEFUL   CHILDREN    IN   CHRIST, 

REV.  JOHN  F.  CASSIDY,  D.  D. 

(Graduate »/  fhe  "American  College  at  Rome.) 


PANKGTKIC   AT   THE   ANNIVERSARY  REQUIEM  OF  PIUS   IX.,   IN   ST.    ROSE'S   CHURCH, 
SACRAMENTO,   CAL. 


SAN     FRANCISCO: 


NOTICE. 


IN  order  to  avoid  unduly  lengthening  the  memorial 
services,  and  because  of  the  mournful  nature  of  the 
occasion,  the  portions  of  the  following  memoir  rela- 
ting to  the  Holy  Father's  participation  in  the  solemn 
public  ceremonies  of  the  Church  were  omitted  from 
the  eulogy  pronounced  in  Sacramento,  in  which  his 
person  and  character  were  alone  delineated.  They 
were  delivered  on  a  previous  occasion  in  St.  Mary's 
Cathedral,  San  Francisco ;  and  I  have  thought  it  fit  to 
insert  them  here  as  forming  an  integral  part  of  my  re- 
collections; deeming  them,  moreover,  of  special  in- 
terest now,  since  Pius  IX.  was  the  last  who  has  ap- 
peared in  the  sacred  splendor  so  eminently  becoming 
the  papal  ceremonial.  Let  us  hope  that  our  Holy 
Father,  Leo,  may  soon  be  free  to  gratify  and  exalt  the 
devotion  of  the  faithful,  as  was  the  wont  of  his  prede- 
cessor of  sacred  memory. 

J.  F.  C. 


PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

Or  • 

POPE  PIUS   IX., 

BY 

REV.  JOHN  F.  CASSIDY,  D.  D. 


BELOVED  FRIENDS  IN  CHRIST  : 

In  the  year  1871,  a  song  of  triumph,  praise  and 
thanksgiving—  a  new  song,  such  as  had  never  been 
heard  by  men  —  was  first  chanted  in  the  central  city 
of  Christendom.  Its  tones  were  quickly  caught  by 
ears  expectant  and  repeated  by  joyous  throats;  and, 
swelling  in  their  march,  they  soon  resounded  in  one 
grand  chorus  of  over  two  hundred  millions  to  the  very 
confines  of  earth,  hushing  all  other  sounds  and  filling 
the  rest  of  creation  with  awe,  surprise  and  admiration. 
We  may  even  devoutly  and  reasonably  imagine  the 
angelic  choirs  in  suspense,  in  wonder  and  complacence 
stooping  to  drink  in  the  novel  strains  and  then  re- 
echoing them  throughout  the  celestial  realms.  —  And 
what,  pray,  was  the  burden  of  this  new  song?  The 
goodness  and  mercy  and  providence  of  God  for  us 
His  earthly  children,  as  shown  in  an  extraordinary 
manner  in  His  Vicar  and  our  Supreme  Head  on  earth, 
the  Pope,—  Pius  IX. 


6  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

And  when  the  grand  pageant  reached  these  distant 
shores  and  the  vast  melody  broke  on  the  ears  of  the 
youngest  children  of  the  Church,  we  too  joined  in  and 
lisped  our  child-like  lay,  and  then,  doubtless,  yearned 
to  be  of  the  favored  few  who  stood  around  the  throne 
of  Peter  and  Pius,  and  feasted  their  eyes  and  ears  and 
hearts  and  souls»on  its  triumph,  which  was  the  cause 
of  such  grand  jubilee  throughout  the  Christian  world. 
But  such  a  pleasure  could  not  be  vouchsafed  to  all: 
some  of  us  must  needs  stay  home  and  mind  the  house, 
striving  to  content  ourselves  with  the  thought  that  it 
was  grand  and  glorious  without  us  and  with  our 
own  humble  reflection  of  it  here. 

But  now,  alas !  how  changed  the  £cene !  Our  smiles 
are  washed  away  in  tears  of  sorrow;  our  hearts  are 
filled  with  sadness;  a  consciousness  of  bereavement 
takes  full  possession  of  our  souls;  a  gloomy  atmos- 
phere envelops  our  whole  being,  while  that  song  of 
triumph,  praise  and  gratitude,  which,  from  long  usage, 
had  become  like  to  a  household  anthem,  is  suddenly 
hushed,  and  in  its  stead  a  plaintive  dirge  is  murmured 
by  an  afflicted  people.  For  Pius  IX.,  the  great,  glo- 
rious and  saintly  Pontiff,  the  sage  and  venerable  Patri- 
arch, the  devoted  and  provident  Father,  has  been 
taken  from  us. 

As  few,  if  any  of  you,  have  enjoyed  the  privilege  and 
happiness  of  a  visit  to  the  Eternal  City,  you  are,  I 
have  thought,  anxious  to  hear  in  a  quiet  way  from  one 
more  favored  in  this  respect  than  yourselves,  some- 
thing of  our  holy  Father,  Pius,  whose  long  reign  over 
us  has  been  for  six  years  the  reason  of  such  great 
rejoicing,  and  whose  demise  is  now  so  universally 
lamented;  and  this  laudable  desire  I  purpose  endeavor- 
ing to  gratify  to-day. 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX. 

Let  me  premise  that  whosoever  expects  to  listen  to 
an  elaborate  essay,  fraught  with  learning  or  fanciful 
speculation,  will  be  sadly  disappointed.  I  am  not 
going  to  draw  an  ideal  picture  of  the  Pope — to  sketch 
him  as  he  was  not — but,  perhaps,  (some  might  think), 
should  have  been.  Nor  to  rehearse  what  has  been  writ- 
ten and  published  of  him  already  (though  that,  perhaps, 
were  more  complete  than  anything  I  can  hope  to  pro- 
duce) ;  for  such  a  treat  .could  more  readily  and  easily 
be  enjoyed  elsewhere  than  here.  Nor  would  I  attempt, 
unless  in  vain,  to  fully  represent  him  to  you  as  he  was 
in  himself;  for,  from  what  glimpses  I  have  been 
favored  with  of  his  admirable  and  amiable  qualities, 
I  am  convinced  that  I  am  ignorant  of  much  which 
would  be  required  for  the  drafting  of  a  life-like  por- 
trait of  him — which  I  therefore  leave  to  others  who 
have  enjoyed  a  deeper  insight  into  and  a  more  familial- 
knowledge  of  his  person,  character  and  virtues  than 
have  been  granted  me.  I  am  furthermore  convinced 
that  all  the  attractive  features  of  that  character  or  the 
excellence  of  those  virtues  have  not  been  revealed  to 
me  or  any  man,  among  even  his  most  intimate  atten- 
dants or  most  enthusiastic  admirers. 

My  purpose — the  task  which  I  have  cheerfully  though 
diffidently  assumed — is  to  conjure  up  the  thoughts  that 
stirred  my  youthful  brain,  and  to  revive  the  feelings 
that  played  upon  my  boyish  heartstrings  when  in  his 
blessed  company;  and,  as  best  I  can,  express  the  one 
and  in  you  inspire  the  other.  If  there  be  any  present 
who  expect  more  or  else  than  this  they  are  doomed  to 
disappointment.  Even  to  picture  Pius  IX.,  as  I  have 
known  him,  is  not  within  the  range  of  my  descriptive 
powers.  I  feel,  however,  called  upon  to  essay  an 
expression,  be  it  never  so  feeble,  of  some  of  the  ideas 


8  P MESON AL  REMINISCENCES. 

and  impressions  which  he  has  left  on  my  mind — ideas 
and  sentiments  never  in  time  to  be  effaced  or  obscured. 
Yet,  should  I  fail,  as  I  fear  I  may,  to  satisfy  your 
craving  after  a  knowledge  of  him,  I  would  beg  you  to 
attribute  the  failure  rather  to  a  want  of  appreciation 
or  the  weakness  of  memory  in  me  than  to  any  defect  in 
the  subject  of  my  sketch. 

I  was  one  of  the  OKIGINAL  THIRTEEN  youths  from 
these  States,  who  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Ameri- 
can College  in  Eome.  That  institution,  which  should 
be  dear  to  every  American  Catholic,  and  an  object  of 
pride  to  every  friend  of  learning  in  this  country,  what- 
ever be  his  creed,  was  opened  December  8th,  1859.  I 
dwelt  in  Home  during  the  six  years  following  that  date, 
and  like  my  companions  frequently  enjoyed  a  sight  of 
the  Pope  in  the  solemn  public  ceremonies  of  the 
Church,  (such  as  are  to  be  witnessed  only  in  Borne), 
and  in  private  conversations  and  companionship  with 
him.  I  shall  mention  and  briefly  describe  a  few  of 
these  occasions,  before  placing  before  you  my  estimate 
of  the  person  and  character  of  Pope  Pius  IX. 


PART    I. 


SOLEMN  PUBLIC  PAPAL  CEREMONIES. 

1.— MASS  IN  ST.  PETER'S. 

And  first  in  order  comes  the  Papal  Solemn  Mass, 
which  is  celebrated  in  St.  Peter's  Church  thrice  in  the 
year,  namely,  on  Christmas,  Easter  Sunday  and  the  festi- 
val of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul.  Those  are  the  only  days 
on  which  the  Pope  publicly  celebrates  Solemn  Mass, 

ST.  PETER'S  is  a  massive  pile  of  symmetry  and 
elegance  of  which  no  amount  of  description  would 
convey  a  just  conception.  It  is  cruciform,  more  than 
six  hundred  feet  in  length,  four  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
wide,  and  nearly  as  high,  and  will  accommodate  one 
hundred  thousand  persons.  The  materials  are  most 
costly  and  durable :  their  arrangement  perfect  in  pleas- 
ing proportion.  Its  symmetry  is  its  chief  feature  and 
hides  its  vastness.  Each  and  every  one  of  the  colos- 
sal parts  is  toned  down  by  its  relation  to  the  others :  so 
much  so,  that  the  new  arrival  fails  to  discern  anything 
monstrous  about  it.  It  is  only  by  separating  one  part 
from  the  rest  that  one  can  realize  its  size.  For  in- 
stance, the  angels  supporting  the  holy-water  fonts  are 
excellent  representations  of  cherubs  or  baby-angels, 
and  yet  their  figures  are  six  feet  in  height,  and  pro- 
portionately massive  in  their  infantine  forms.  Again: 
The  medalions,  at  the  base  of  the  dome,  containing 
the  four  Evangelists,  present  in  mosaic  the  inspired 


10  PERSONAL  EEM1NISCENCES 

writers  as  figures,  which  if  standing  erect,  the  eye 
takes  it,  might  measure  eight  feet,  whereas  in  reclin- 
ing postures  they  actually  measure  twenty-eight  feet, 
from  head  to  feet.  Also:  the  letters,  "  TIL  es  Petrus, " 
etc.,"  around  the  base  of  the  dome,  which  I  have  often 
scrutinized  and  scanned  carefully,  appeared  to  me 
about  sixteen  inches  long,  and  yet  they  each  measure 
five  feet.  And  so  of  the  other  parts,  all  which  are 
really  not  very  distant  from  the  visitor.  All  this  is 
due  to  the  proportions  of  the  structure .  It  contains 
some  forty  altars,  the  chief  of  which  stands  isolated, 
so  that  the  celebrant  faces  the  congregation,  over 
the  tomb  of  the  Apostles,  beneath  the  "vast  and 
wondrous  dome,  to  which  Diana's  marvel  was  a  cell." 
No  one  but  the  Pope  celebrates  mass  on  this  altar, 
except  by  special  permission  of  His  Holiness. 

The  portion  in  the  rear  of  the  altar,  set  apart  for  the 
sanctuary  on  these  occasions,  is  more  spacious  than 
our  largest  church  here.  It  is  lined  on  the  outer  edge 
with  platforms  occupied  by  diplomatic  representatives 
of  foreign  courts,  the  chief  officers  of  the  army  with 
their  staffs,  and  other  lay  dignitaries.  Within  these 
are  ranged  Priests,  Bishops,  Patriarchs,  Cardinals  and 
those  in  immediate  attendance  on  the  Holy  Father,  all 
robed  in  garments  appropriate  to  their  offices.  In 
lieu  of  a  sanctuary-railing,  a  file  of  Swiss  Guards,  en- 
cased in  antique  coat-of-mail,  and  the  Pope's  body- 
guard, called  the  Noble  Guard,  (which  is  composed  of 
noblemen  most  accomplished  and  skilled  in  arms), 
clad  in  the  richest  of  military  uniforms,  keep  clear  the 
space  immediately  around  the  altar.  A  passage  is  also 
kept  open  from  the  altar  to  the  front  door  by  a  single 
line  of  the  Palatine  Guard,  numbering  some  sixteen 
hundred  men. 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  11 

The  choir  is  composed  of  about  thirty  members,  all 
masters  of  music  and  possessed  of  unequalled  voices. 
They  always  sing  without  any  instrumental  accompani- 
ment whatever.  Harmony  is  their  forte. 

Now  enters  the  procession  of  ecclesiastical  dig- 
nitaries, wending  its  way  to  the  sanctuary,  and 
shortly  a  suppressed  murmur  announces  the  arrival  of 
the  "  HOLY  FATHER!"  who  is  seated  on  the  Sedes 
Gestatoria,  or  throne,  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  eight 
clerics.  The  view  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  He 
advances  slowly,  blessing  on  the  way  the  kneeling 
multitudes,  till  the  altar  is  reached,  and,  after  the 
usual  preparations,  begins  the  Mass. — Of  the  Papal 
Mass  and  the  accompanying  ceremonial  in  general,  I 
would  merely  observe,  that  there  is  no  apparent  aim 
at  gaudiness  or  pompous  display.  All  is  smooth, 
simple,  natural, — yet  withal  gorgeous,  grand,  impres- 
sive, awe-inspiring  and  pleasing  beyond  description. 
One  feels,  for  once  in  his  life,  that  the  Mass  is  being 
celebrated  as  it  should  be. 

But  I  must  not  pass,  without  special  notice,  the 
Consecration.  Yet,  what  shall  I  say  of  it  ? 

I  should  first  remark, that  up  to  this  time,  there  have 
been  observable  no  evidences  of  recollectedness  or 
especial  reverence  in  the  people.  Practical  Catholics 
always  hear  some  other  Mass.  They  never  repair  to 
St.  Peter's  with  the  purpose  of  satisfying  their  obliga- 
tion to  hear  Mass  by  attending  at  this  one.  They 
come  more  with  a  view  to  see  things  done  well  and  to 
admire,  than  to  indulge  their  private  devotion.  No 
one  is  disedified  by  the  enquiries  in  loud  whispers 
after  information,  the  eager  eyes  and  anxious  ears  of 
those  around  him.  It  seems  quite  natural.  But  when 
the  Consecration  begins,  a  heavy  fall  of  arms,  a  shuf- 


12  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

fling  of  tens  of  thousands  of  feet  (preparatory  to  kneel- 
ing) on  the  marble  pavement  are  heard,  and  all  is 
hushed.  The  Holy  Father,  with  the  sacred  species 
elevated  in  his  hands,  turns  slowly  to  all  the  points  of 
the  compass,  something  after  the  manner  of  the  priest 
in  giving  Benediction  with  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
And  during  the  oblation  most  exquisite  and  soft  tones 
emerge  from  the  apex  of  the  dome  four  hundred  feet 
above,  and,  gradually  swelling  in  volume,  they  descend 
and  spread  till  the  vast  space  with  all  its  recesses 
seems  wrapt  in  unearthly  melody.  These  strains  float 
from  silver  trumpets  manipulated  by  master  hands, 
and  are  commemorative  of  an  old  legend  that  once  the 
angels  in  this  place  accompanied  the  Consecration 
with  their  heavenly  harmony.  The  sacred  drama  lasts 
perhaps  five  minutes;  and,  without  presuming  to  de- 
scribe the  effect  on  the  worshippers,  I  will  confidently 
assert,  that  not  one  of  those  thousands  would  willing- 
ly exchange  those  five  minutes  for  a  whole  year  of  any 
other  kind  of  pleasurable  emotions  which  he  had  ever 
experienced.  The  adoring  multitudes  rise  slowly  and 
reluctantly  to  their  feet,  and  the  Mass  proceeds. 

2.— CANDLEMAS  AND  PALM  SUNDAY. 

The  distinctive  features  of  these  solemnities  are  the 
blessing  of  the  Candles  and  Palms,  processions  with 
the  same  and  the  singing  of  the  Passion.  The  candles 
are  large  wax  tapers,  painted  in  oil  colors  by  master 
brushes  and  otherwise  decorated  with  artistic  taste. 
The  palm-leaves,  which  are  taken  from  the  tree  of 
that  name,  are  woven  with  consummate  skill  into  varied 
shapes  and  designs  to  please  the  eye,  and,  like  the 
candles,  are  tastefully  ornamented.  The  ceremony  of 


OF  POPE  PIUS   IX.  j.i 

blessing  these  ended,  the  procession  is  formed,  all 
composing  it,  including  the  Holy  Father,  bearing 
candles  or  palms  (as  the  case  may  be),  and  passes 
around,  within  the  church  (St.  Peter's.)  It  is  on  such 
occasions  as  these,  that  is,  in  processions,  that  the 
practice  of  carrying  the  Holy  Father,  elevated  on  his 
throne  above  the  surrounding  heads,  is  appreciated. 
Few  could  otherwise  enjoy  a  view  of  him,  and  without 
that  view  no  one  would  be  satisfied  with  the  ceremo- 
nies. At  such  times  he  is  always  vested  in  full  ponti- 
ficals and  bears  on  his  head  the  Tiara  or  triple-crown 
which  is  distinctive  of  the  Papacy. — These  process- 
ions are  grand  indeed,  but  I  withhold  comment  on 
them  till  I  come  to  mention  that  of  Corpus  Christi, 
which  eclipses  all  others. — The  Passion  is  recited 
and  chaunted  much  in  the  style  in  vogue  in  all  our 
churches,  but  with  the  excellence  attainable  only  by 
the  selected  and  cultured  voices  of  the  Land  of  Music, 
the  Home  of  all  the  Arts. 

3.— HOLY  THURSDAY. 

The  washing  of  the  Disciples7  feet  and  their  being 
waited  on  by  their  Divine  Master  are  commemorated 
in  the  Vatican  Basilica  on  Holy  Thursday.  In  one  of 
the  wings  of  the  church  an  open  space  is  reserved  for 
the  former  of  these  ceremonies.  The  view  is  excellent, 
being  unobstructed  by  an  altar  or  other  intervening 
structure.  And  as  the  aged  Pontiff,  in  imitation  of 
his  Divine  Lord,  (John,  xiii.  14,)  kneels  and  washes, 
wipes  and  kisses  the  feet  of  twelve  students  selected 
for  the  purpose  from  different  colleges,  every  beholder 
is  highly  edified  and  pleased. — THE  SUPPER:  Then  all 
repair  to  a  large  hall  over  the  vestibule  of  St.  Peter's, 
where  a  semi-sacred  scene  is  enacted,  that,  for  an  air 


14  PERSONAL  EEMimSCENCES 

of  charming  simplicity  and  Christian  charity,  could 
scarcely  be  equalled  by  aught  else.  The  twelve  are 
seated  along  one  side  of  a  table,  and  facing  such  spec- 
tators as  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  posi- 
tion in  the  limited  space.  The  supper  is  a  sumptuous 
one,  though  of  light  materials,  and  is  served  out  to 
each  by  the  Holy  Father,  with  an  air  of  ease,  con- 
descension and  gracious  dignity  which  is  peculiarly  his 
own,  and  takes  the  sympathies  of  all  observers  by 
storm.  On  every  countenance  a  beam  of  pleasure  and 
admiration  plays.  If  the  Holy  Father  were  to  hear 
the  laudatory  remarks  made  about  him  just  then,  it 
would  tax  his  humility  severely. 

4.— A  CANONIZATION. 

I  was,  too,  among  the  fortunate  ones  who  were  pre- 
sent at  a  ceremony,  the  like  to  which  has  not  been 
witnessed  by  most  of  those  even  who  have  spent  years 
in  the  Eternal  City — namely,  a  Canonization — that  of 
the  Japanese  Martyrs.  Neither  expense  nor  labor  is 
spared  by  the  Church  in  her  endeavor  to  render  the 
public  proclamation  of  her  children's  sanctity  and 
glory  appropriate,  and  it  is  at  all  times  a  gorgeous  and 
imposing  celebration.  But  the  occasion  of  which  I 
speak  was  unusually  so.  This  circumstance  was  due 
to  the  fact  of  there  being  at  that  time  assembled  in 
Borne  a  large  number  of  Prelates,  convened  for  other 
purposes;  though  even  this  coincidence  should  not, 
perhaps,  be  deemed  accidental,  for  Almighty  God  may 
have  so  arranged  for  the  greater  glory  and  consolation 
of  His  suffering  Church  and  the  confusion  of  her  ene- 
mies. Some  three  or  four  hundred  Bishops,  Patri- 
archs and  other  Church  dignitaries  helped  by  their 


OF  POVE   7'/rs    IX.  15 

attendance  to  enhance  the  grandeur  of  the  ceremony. 
For  months  previously  the  interior  of  St.  Peter's  was 
being  decorated  and  embellished  to  such  an  extent 
that  on  the  great  day  scarcely  any  part  of  the  vast 
basilica  was  recognizable  to  those  familiar  with  it 
only  in  its  every-day  attire.  The  immense  pilasters 
and  other  works  of  art,  engraved  in  marbles  of  every 
variety  of  color  and  value  on  the  walls,  were  screened 
from  view  by  tapestries,  painted  imitations  of  stones 
and  many  other  devices;  wax  candles  by  tens  of  thou-. 
sands  were  arranged  in  divers  forms,  and,  altogether, 
the  church  donned  a  novel  appearance.  I  would  not 
say  that  the  change  was  an  improvement  on  the  normal 
condition  of  the  building,  for  it  is  hardly  susceptible 
of  such;  yet,  because  new,  it  pleased  the  old  fre- 
quenters, and  the  effect  of  the  renovation  was  withal 
sublime. 

Knowing  that  the  occasion  would  draw  very  many 
to  the  church,  I,  in  company  with  one  of  my  fellow- 
students,  repaired  thither  as  early  as  5  A.  M.  to  secure, 
if  possible,  a  good  view;  but,  though  we  fared  better 
than  the  majority,  we  paid  dearly  for  our  pleasure. 
We  wormed  our  way  to  within,  perhaps,  two  hundred 
feet  of  the  Grand  Altar,  and  there  remained  wedged 
in  for  seven  or  eight  mortal  hours,  at  times  unable  to 
touch  the  pavement  with  our  feet,  so  great  was  the  pres- 
sure. Every  available  space  in  the  church  was  occu- 
pied by  fully  twice  as  many  persons  as  it  was  designed 
to  accommodate  with  standing  room,  and  a  still  larger 
number  was  outside.  In  company  with  those  usually 
forming  such  processions  the  hundreds  of  Prelates 
from  foreign  climes,  all  clad  in  rich  vestments,  marched 
before  the  Holy  Father,  who  suffered  nothing  from 
comparison  with  any  or  all  of  these,  his  coadjutors  in 


16  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

the  government   of   Christ's  Church.     He  was  easily 

Chief  among  Princes At  the  eventful  moment 

the   Te  Deum  was  entoned  by  the  Pope  and  chorused 
by  the  immense  mass  assembled. 

After  those  eight  hours  of  excruciating  bliss  or 
delicious  torment  (as  you  will),  we  two  hungry  and 
worn  youths  sought  refreshment  within  the  sacred 
precincts  of  our  Alma  Mater,  satiated  with  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  day.  I  must,  however,  remark  that 
St.  Peter's  is  rarely  ever  so  crowded :  yet,  even  then, 
the  sacrifice  of  convenience  and  comfort  involved  is 
more  than  balanced  by  the  glory  of  the  scene. 

5.— BENEDICTION  IN  FKONT  OF  ST.  PETER'S. 

Another  public  ceremony  in  which  the  Holy  Father 
figures  conspicuously  is  the  Benediction  in  front  of 
St.  Peter's,  pronounced  by  him  on  Easter  Sunday.  As 
a  triumphal  celebration,  having  nothing  sacred  about 
it  except  in  the  part  enacted  by  the  Pope  himself, 
this  exhibition  stands  preeminent  above  anything 
else  of  the  kind  in  Home,  or  indeed  elsewhere.  The 
gathering  of  people  is  the  largest  of  the  year.  The 
Eoman  people  turn  out  en  masse  to  receive  the  bless- 
ing of  the  Holy  Father  and  to  testify  their  devotion  to 
his  person  and  rule  over  them :  and,  of  course,  not 
one  of  the  thousands  of  visitors  from  foreign  coun- 
tries— of  whom  the  greatest  number  of  the  season  is 
then  in  the  city — could  be  induced  to  absent  himself. 
I  remember  one  year  when  the  number  of  foreign 
arrivals  during  the  single  week  preceding  Palm  Sun- 
day was  reported  at  forty  thousand.  The  hotels 
charged  ten  dollars  per  day  and  were  over-crowded: 
many  sojourners  were  obliged  to  seek  lodgings  from 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  17 

twelve  to  twenty  miles  out  in  the  country,  whence 
they  repaired  early  each  morning  to  witness  the  cere- 
monies of  Holy  Week. 

Well,  all  these  are  gathered  on  the  occasion  in  ques- 
tion in  the  great  circular  piazza  in  front  of  St.  Peter's. 
The  number  present  must  exceed  two  hundred  thou- 
sand souls.  All  eyes  are  fixed  on  the  loggia  or  balcony 
some  fifty  feet  above  the  center  door  of  the  church. 
At  the  appointed  time  a  small  procession  of  Prelates 
comes  to  the  front,  and,  dividing,  makes  way  for  the 
Holy  Father,  who  in  full  pontificals  is  carried  on 
his  throne.  Profound  silence  reigns  throughout  the 
vast  assemblage;  the  indulgences  attached  to  the  Papal 
Benediction  are  published,  and  Pius  IX.  proceeds  to 
enact  a  role  which  nature  and  grace  have  preeminently 
fitted  him  to  fill.  Still  seated  on  the  throne  he  chants 
in  a  loud,  clear  voice,  audible  several  hundred  feet 
away,  the  preliminary  prayers;  the  people  fall  on  their 
knees,  and  the  Holy  Father  rises  to  his  feet,  and,  with 
outstretched  arms,  as  if  embracing  the  whole  world, 
invokes  the  blessing  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity  on 
God's  children  throughout  the  earth.  The  volume  of 
his  voice  is  truly  wonderful  just  then,  its  tones  reach- 
ing every  ear.  The  sacred  names  are  sung  with  such 
force  and  distinctness  as  to  be  easily  heard  by  prob- 
ably over  one  hundred  thousand  persons;  and,  after 
the  slow,  measured  utterance  of  each,  cannon  is  dis- 
charged at  the  fortress  of  Sant'  Angelo,  nearly  a  mile 
distant,  by  means  of  electricity. 

Now,  dear  friends,  it  would  be  folly  in  me  to  attempt 
to  describe  the  emotions  aroused  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people  while  they  feast  their  eyes  on  the* figure  of  the 
Holy  Father  and  drink  in  the  unctious  tones  of  his 
voice.  Have  you  ever  wept,  aye,  cried  aloud  with 


IS  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

joy  ?  Have  the  fountains  of  your  hearts  gushed  forth 
in  a  kind  of  ecstasy?  If  so,  you  can  divine,  without 
the  aid  of  my  cold  words,  the  nature  of  those  emo- 
tions.— The  last  syllable  is  scarcely  suffered  to  die 
away  when  the  pent-up  feelings  of  the  multitude  seek 
expression  in  one  grand  burst  of  exultation.  The 
vociferous,  almost  wild  cheering  of  the  crowd,  the 
clangor  of  a  dozen  brass  bands  and  the  booming 
of  cannon,  both  at  the  fortress  and  on  the  piazza,  pro- 
duce a  medley  of  discordant  sounds,  which  neverthe- 
less is  pleasing  because  joyous;  and  the  waving  of 
handkerchiefs  and  flags  enhances  the  life  and  gayety 
of  the  scene.  The  Holy  Father,  reclining  on  his 
throne,  looks  down  for  a  few  moments  on  the  vast 
forest  of  uncovered  heads,  seemingly  complacent  with 
this  demonstration  of  loyalty  and  devotion,  and  then 
retires  to  much-needed  refreshment  and  rest. 


6.—  CORPUS  CHEISTI. 

The  glory  and  glitter  of  all  other  processions  wane 
at  the  approach  of  this  pageant  as  the  light  of  the 
moon  pales  in  the  presence  of  the  rising  sun.  The 
great  piazza  in  front  of  !St.  Peter's  is  encompassed 
with  lour  rows  of  massive  stone  columns,  sur- 
mounted with  a  heavy  roof,  and  forms  an  appropriate 
foreground  to  the  giart  basilica.  Through  the  central 
aisle  of  this  colonnade  the  triumphal  parade  defiles 
for  a  circuit  of  perhaps  a  half-mile.  Military  companies 
and  select  guards  in  their  holiday  uniforms,  delega- 
tions from  the  various  religious  orders  in  their  several 
habits,  bishops  and  cardinals  in  rich  vestments  slowly 
advance  in  graduated  ranks,  while  bands,  stationed  at 
intervals  throughout  the  lines,  discourse  in  solemn 


OF  POPS   PfOH    IX  1M 

and  soothing  tones  sacred  inarches.  The  triumphal 
march  of  a  victorious  general  in  old  Kome  would  but 
ill  compare  with  this  one.  Yet,  all  these  are  but 
nothing,  and  fa,de,  as  they  should,  into  insignificance 
and  utter  oblivion  at  the  approach  of  the  HOLY  OF 
HOLIES,  Who  is  borne  in  a  rich  remonstrance  by  the 
Pope  kneeling  on  an  elevated  platform, 

It  may  seem  irreverent,  yet  I  trust  it  is  not,  for  true 
it  is  that  the  devout  worshippers  cannot  refrain  from 
feasting  their  eyes  on  the  angelic  features  of  the  Holj 
Father.  I  say  "angelic"  designedly,  for  it  often  oc- 
curred to  my  mind,  when  gazing  at  him  on  those  occa- 
sions, that  his  venerable  locks  and  saintly  counte- 
nance and  prayerful  lips  would  not  mar  the  sacred 
mood  of  the  adoring  spirits  about  the  throne  of  God. 
This  may  appear  extravagant  to  hearers,  but,  I  assure 
you,  not  to  beholders. — The  procession  occupies  three 
hours  or  more;  and,  like  all  the  public  ceremonies  in 
which  the  Pope  figures,  is,  in  its  general  "  make-up  " 
and  its  distinctive  features,  grand,  sublime  and  charm- 
ing beyond  any  other  like  human  exhibition.  Were 
you  present  at  them,  your  unanimous  verdict  would  be 
that  mine  has  been  but  a  feeble  effort  to  convey  to  you 
a  true  idea  of  them.  Yet,  take  what  I  have  said  for 
what  it  is  worth,  multiply  by  tea,  and  the  result  will 
supply  you  with  something  near  a  fair  statement  of  the 
case. 


7.— VISITS  IN  HALF-STATE  TO   CHURCHES. 

Besides  these  solemn  functions  there  are  many  occa- 
sions on  which  the  Holy  Father  appears  in  public 
with  less  ceremony,  such  as  his  visits  to  the  churches 
throughout  the  city But  I  must  abstain  from 


90  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCED. 

dilating  on  these,  and  I  would  simply  remark  that, 
robed  in  the  richest  of  vestments,  or  clad  in  his  every- 
day attire,  carried  in  triumph  amid  a  mass  of  sacred 
wealth,  or  engaged  in  the  prosaic  and  tedious  duties  of 
his  office,  the  deportment  and  movements  of  Pius  IX. 
were  uniformly  characterized  by  an  ease,  composure, 
dignity  and  grace  which  were  perfectly  charming. 


PART  II. 


PERSON  AND  CHAEACTEE  OF  PIUS  IX. 

Immediately  after  the  opening  of  our  college  we 
repaired  to  His  Holiness  to  announce  the  event,  and 
were  received  kindly.  A  few  weeks  afterwards  he 
honored  us  with  a  stately  visit,  and  we  succeeded  in 
according  him  a  worthy  reception.  A  few  days  after 
this  visit,  in  answer  to  an  invitation,  we  called  at  his 
palace  (the  Vatican),  through  which  he  strolled  with 
us  for  hours.  On  many  subsequent  occasions  also  we 
enjoyed  his  blessed  company.  He  seemed  much  taken 
with  the  students  of  the  several  colleges  in  the  city, 
and  frequently  visited  them.  In  those  of  our  college 
he  appeared  to  take  more  than  common  interest. 
Perhaps  I  say  this,  because  everyone  thinks  his  own 
the  best  mother  in  the  world;  but  many  others  ima- 
gined that  they  discerned  some  such  preference.  In 
these  visits  to  the  different  colleges  the  Holy  Father 
was  so  familiar  and  affable  that  the  students  learned 
much  of  him,  and  the  better  they  knew  him  the  more 
they  loved  him.  Now,  let  me  try  to  tell  you  what  I 
know  and  think  of  him. 

HIS  PHYSIQUE. 

When  I  last  saw  him,  Pius  IX.  was  seventy-three 
years  old.  Then — and  I  believe  he  had  not  changed 
much  before  his  demise  (except  becoming  more  attrac- 
tive and  venerable  with  age) — physically  he  was  stout 


*?  PERSONAL    REMINISCENCES 

and  strong.  He  was  rather  a  little  under  the  medium 
height,  but  his  shortness  of  stature  was  observable 
only  when  brought  in  contrast  with  more  towering 
forms.  Standing  alone,  and  as  he  generally  appeared 
in  public  ceremonies,  he  presented  a  very  imposing 
and  stately  figure.  Many,  among  them  myself,  thought 
his  the  most  handsome,  pleasing  and  charming  coun- 
tenance they  ever  beheld  in  a  person  of  his  build.  In 
conversation  his  voice  had  a  soft,  paternal  tone. 
When  chanting  the  offices  of  the  Church,  it  agreeably 
surprised  every  listener.  /,  certainly,  have  never  heard 
another  such  voice,  so  melodious,  rich,  full,  strong  and 
clear.  When,  raised  some  seventy  feet  above  the 
pavement  of  St.  Peter's  church,  he  gave  his  benedic- 
tion, every  syllable  was  distinctly  heard  six  hundred 
feet  away,  and,  of  course,  the  sound  of  his  voice  much 
further  off.  Twenty  years  ago  his  hair,  which  was 
very  abundant,  retained  its  iron-gray  of  fifty  years  ago, 
but  when  I  left  Borne  it  had  already  begun  silvering. 
His  health  was  excellent,  and  he  rarely  took  vacation 
and  scarcely  any  respite  from  his  very  arduous  labors, 
for  which  he  was  ever  ready.  But  you  ought  to  have 
•een  him,  and  you  would  surely  say  that  you  had  never 
»een  another  like  to  him. 


CHARACTERISTIC  VIRTUES. 

In  speaking  of  his  rirtues  or  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart,  I  shall  allude  to  those  only  which  shone  most 
Conspicuously,  and  which  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  passing  observer,  remarking  at  the  same  time,  that 
a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  them  revealed  their 
depth  and  purity. 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  n 

1.  —  HUMILITY 

Is  a  virtue  whose  practice  is  somewhat  difficult  to  one 
in  the  Pope's  station.  His  attendants  surround  him 
with  pomp,  and  his  loving  and  admiring  children 
throughout  the  world  are  pleased  to  see  their  Father 
made  much  of.  We  are  thrilled  with  awe,  love  and 
joy  at  the  grandeur,  solemnity  and  splendor  of  the 
ceremonies  of  the  Church  when  he  officiates  or  parti- 
cipates in  them.  We  insist  on  all — kings,  emperors 
and  other  grandees — reverencing  him  as  their  supe- 
rior, or  on  their  standing  back  from  his  august  pre- 
sence. Yet,  humility  held  a  prominent  place  among 
the  virtues  which  characterized  Pius  IX.  He  could, 
without  laying  aside  his  dignity,  condescend,  with  a 
better  grace  than  one  would  think  possible,  to  associate 
and  converse  with  the  lowliest.  At  times,  for  instance, 
when  taking  his  usual  afternoon  drive  by  way  of  relaxa- 
tion from  the  .cares  of  the  day — on  which  occasions  he 
must  needs  move  in  state,  with  church  dignitaries  in 
attendance  and  noble  guards  around  him — he  would 
step  from  his  carriage  and  stop  some  poor  old  person 
on  the  road,  to  comfort,  encourage  and  bless  him.  Or 
he  might  encounter  a  band  of  young  students  and  chat 
with  them  pleasantly  about  their  distant  homes. 

His  visits  to  the  different  colleges,  of  which  I  have 
made  mention,  were,  of  course,  much  coveted  and 
appreciated.  The  occasion  of  his  first  visit  to  our 
college  will  be  long  remembered  by  all  present,  and 
especially  in  the  memories  of  the  inmates  it  will  ever 
be  treasured  as  one  of  the  brightest  spots  in  their 
existence.  Dignitaries  and  detachments  from  other 
colleges  envied  our  success  in  giving  the  Holy  Father 
a  grand  (they  said  unequalled)  ovation.  They  envied 
us,  too,  and  with  reason,  the  more  than  ordinary  com- 


24  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

placence  and  interest  he  displayed  towards  us;  but 
their  envy  was  a  holy  one.  He  walked  with  us  through 
the  college  halls,  and,  when  in  front  of  a  bust  of  the 
"Father  of  his  Country,"  he  remarked  that  "Washing- 
ton was  a  great  man."  Just  then,  hearing  an  Eaglish 
Monsignore  (Talbot)  whisper  something  about  our 
Hurrah!  he  expressed  a  wish  to  hear  an  American 
cheer,  which  we  thirteen  youngsters  accordingly  gave, 
with  a  vim  that  would  have  drowned  a  thousand  Italian 
vivas.  The  guards  came  rushing  up  stairs  with  drawn 
swords,  thinking  the  uproar  occasioned  by  a  revolu- 
tionary outbreak  (an  affair  of  almost  daily  occurrence 
in  that  peaceful  country !)  The  Holy  Father  playfully 
covered  his  ears  with  his  hands  and  ran  into  an  adjoin- 
ing room,  much  anmsed  and  pleased  with  what  many 
smaller  dignitaries  woulu  have  frowned  upon  and 
rebuked  as  disrespectful.  Taking  advantage  of  his 
indulgent  affability  and  condescension,  we  obtained 
from  him  concessions  which  he  had  previously  in  his 
official  capacity  refused;  among  others,  permission  to 
keep  the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  our  private  Chapel,  it 
being  already  in  a  Church  adjoining  the  college.  We 
had  prepared  a  large  number  of  short  speeches  in 
many  living  and  dead  languages,  but  we  had  time  for 
the  delivery  of  only  a  few  of  them.  He  then  addressed 
the  assembly  (numbering  between  two  and  three  hun- 
dred) at  great  length,  dwelling  with  much  feeling  on 
his  domestic  troubles,  and  with  much  enthusiasm  on 
the  progress  of  the  Church  in  America.  That  was  a 
glorious  day. 

Then  we  had  another  glorious  day  with  him,  all  to 
ourselves.  A  few  days  after  his  visit  to  us  he  sent  us 
an  invitation  to  walk  with  him  in  the  Vatican  Gardens. 
Our  hearts  fairly  jumped  with  joy.  On  the  appointed 


OF  POPE  PIUS   IX.  25 

day  it  rained,  thank  God !  and  he  took  us  through  the 
great  Vatican  Library,  and  we  enjoyed  ourselves  more 
than  we  could  have  done  in  the  gardens.  He  showed 
us  rare  and  valuable  books,  listened  in  one  of  the  side 
halls  to  the  rest  of  our  little  addresses,  with  which  he 
was  much  pleased,  and  bade  us  repeat  the  "Hurrah!  " 
adding  that  we  need  not  fear  being  heard  there  by 
outsiders.  In  a  word,  he  made  himself  and  us  per- 
fectly at  home.  Having  received  presents  and  his 
blessing,  after  having  been  with  him  some  three  or 
four  hours,  we  left,  crammed^  full  of  happiness  and  a 
deal  prouder  than  he  was. 

All  this  and  much  else  of  like  nature  revealed  his 
habitual  humility  and  condescending  disposition. 
And  it  was  remarked  by  all  that,  however  much  thus 
favored  by  him,  one  could  not  for  a  moment  forget 
that  he  was  the  Vicar  of  Christ,  so  naturally  did  dig- 
nity sit  upon  him  with  all  his  humility.  In  him  dignity 
and  humility  blended  together,  each  enhancing  the 
excellence  of  the  other. 

2. — CHARITY — FRATERNAL,. 

His  charity,  so  far  as  this  virtue  refers  to  men, 
I  can  hardly,  if  at  all.  separate  from  his  humility;  for 
it  was  his  charity  that  made  him  humble  and  condes- 
cending. Charity,  which  is  the  greatest  of  virtues,  \ 
was  certainly  his  predominant  virtue.  It  seemed  in 
him  rather  natural  than  acquired.  His  face  always 
wore  an  attractive  expression:  a  kindly  smile  ever 
played  about  his  mouth:  his  eye  gave  forth  a  soft, 
compassionate,  benign  look :  his  voice  was  full  of  feel- 
ing and  sympathy :  he  was  most  affable,  uttering  words 
of  paternal  advice  and  encouragement.  It  is  difficult, 
if  at  all  possible,  to  conceive  how  the  flush  of  anger 
or  the  wrinkles  of  severity  could  find  a  resting  place 


26  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

on  a  countenance  so  serene  and  winning  as  was  his. 
These  characteristic  graces  made  him  irresistibly 
charming  to  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  One 
could  not  help  admiring,  esteeming  and  loving  him. 
However  severe  the  tax  on  his  patience,  whatever  the 
amount  of  labor  imposed  on  him  and  of  fatigue  con- 
sequent on  it,  the  bright,  warm  flame  of  his  charity 
never  waned,  but  ever  glowed  towards  all,  especially 
the  poor,  lowly,  suffering,  sorrowing.  His  "charity 
was  patient,  was  kind,  ....  was  not  puffed  up,  .... 
was  not  provoked  to  anger, ....  bore  all  things." 
(1  Cor.  xiii.  4.) 

Nor  was  his  charity  of  that  kind  which  finds  expres- 
sion in  mere  "word  and  in  tongue,  but  in  deed  and  in 
truth."  (1  John  iii.  18.)  His  reign  was  one  of  lenien- 
cy and  clemency  to  the  erring .  He  strove  to  reclaim 
and  reform,  rather  than  to  punish  criminals  as  do  other 
rulers.  His  laws  were  enacted  and  enforced  for  the 
benefit  and  welfare  of  his  people,  not  for  his  own 
private  interests.  His  capital  was  renowned  for  the 
number  and  grand  scale  of  its  institutions  founded  for 
the  relief  of  every  form  of  affliction  which  distresses 
humanity.  In  this  respect  his  put  to  shame  many  of 
the  most  opulent  and  prosperous  governments  of  earth, 
which  often  forget  or  but  imperfectly  provide  for  the 
weak  and  poor,  who  are  unable  to  assert  their  rights. 
Then  in  the  distribution  of  alms,  he  often  completely 
divested  himself  of  the  immense  quantities  of  gold 
and  silver  laid  at  his  feet  by  the  devotion  and  piety  of 
Catholics  throughout  the  world.  When,  for  instance, 
we  visited  him  for  the  first  time,  he  apologized  for 
giving  us  medals  of  an  inferior  metal,  saying  that  he 
would  gladly  give  us  more  precious  ones,  but  his  stock 
of  them  had  run  out,  together  with  the  means  of  sup- 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  t7 

plying  their  place.  (Our  medals  were  more  dearly 
prized  by  us  on  that  account.)  At  times  he  hud  even 
broken  and  melted  down  the  insignia  of  his  office  and 
the  sacred  vessels,  and  distributed  them  to  the  poor  in 
different  countries.  His  frugal  mode  of  life  attests 
that  his  possessions  were  not  for  himself.  For,  while 
his  devoted  children  gladly  supplied  him  with  the 
means  of  living  in  greater  splendor  than  does  any 
earthly  prince,  his  personal  expenses  were  really  less 
than  what  an  ordinary  citizen  here  thinks  fit  to  lay  out 
on  himself.— Such  was  his  charity  in  its  human  de- 
velopment. 


-CHARITY — DIVINE . 


Of  the  divine  virtue  of  Charity,  considered  as  the 
love  of  God  in  his  heart,  I  shall  not  speak,  except  as 
manifested  in  his  zeal  for  the  spread  of  divine  truth, 
the  increase  of  God's  glory  through  his  Church  on 
earth,  and  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  His  zeal  was 
manifested  in  the  great  concern  with  which  he  viewed 
the  advances  of  our  holy  religion,  especially  in  mis- 
sionary countries,  among  which  our  own  holds  not  the 
least  prominence.  He  seemed  to  bear  towards  this 
new  conquest  of  the  Cross  that  more  than  common 
affection  which  finds  place  in  the  heart  of  a  parent  for 
his  youngest  child.  He  treated  our  Bishops  as  his 
bosom  friends,  and  prized  them  as  his  coadjutors  in 
the  most  promising  portion  of  the  Churcn.  He 
received  and  entertained  our  Priests  as  veterans  in  the 
most  momentous  battle-field  of  the  Faith.  Our  stu- 
dents he  encouraged,  and  he  seemed  to  foresee  the 
fruits  of  their  labors  in  the  choicest  section  of  the 
Lord's  vineyard  on  earth.  His  zeal  was  manifest  also 
in  his  founding  of  so  many  Sees  in  all  parts  of  the 
world,  especially  on  this  continent. 


88  PERSONAL   REMINISCENCES 

Another  evidence  of  his  zeal  is  to  be  found  in  the 
establishment  by  him  of  numerous  national  colleges  in 
the  Holy  City  for  the  instruction  and  training  of  mis- 
sionaries to  all  climes.  These  colleges  were  all  under 
his  inspection  and  shared  largely  in  his  paternal  solici- 
tude. Among  those  which  owe  their  origin  to  his 
zeal  and  their  success  to  his  fostering  care  are  those 
for  the  northern  and  southern  continents  of  America. 
I  may  add  here  that  his  seeming  partiality  to  the 
American  Church,  and  exceptionally  deep  interest  in 
all  matters  pertaining  thereto,  were,  perhaps,  due  to 
the  fact  that,  before  his  elevation  to  the  Holy  See,  he 
visited  these  shores — the  first  of  St.  Peter's  successors 
to  set  foot  on  the  New  World — and  that  from  personal 
observation  he  probably  learned  to  expect  great  things 
of  us. 

His  zeal  shone  forth  also  in  the  frequent  convocation 
of  the  Bishops  throughout  the  world  to  attest  and  pro- 
claim the  triumphs  of  the  Church.  In  one  of  those 
assemblies  he  set  its  most  brilliant  jewel  in  the  diadem 
which  adorns  the  brow  of  Her  whom  all  generations 
call  Blessed,  by  defining  the  dogma  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  Mother  of  God.  He  was,  by  the 
way,  a  most  devoted  servant  and  client  of  God's  Virgin 
Mother.  Her  chaste  spouse,  too,  came  in  for  a  large 
share  of  the  earthly  honors  accorded  by  our  Holy 
Father  to  God's  favored  servants  in  Heaven;  for  the 
faithful  were  bidden  by  him  to  revere  St.  Joseph  as 
Patron  of  the  Universal  Church.  In  another  of  those 
august  meetings  the  victories  of  many  martyrs  in  Japan 
were  celebrated,  and  their  virtues  held  up  for  our 
admiration  and  imitation.  At  that  time  the  Holy 
Father,  with  the  Bishops  around  him,  took  occasion  to 
condemn  the  infamous  spoliation  of  the  States  of  the 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  39 

Church  by  northern  marauders.  His  last  convocation 
of  the  Bishops,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  General 
Council  of  the  Church,  may  be  regarded  as  the  crown- 
ing act  of  his  illustrious  life.  Touching  this  Council, 
I  shall  merely  observe  that  it  would  appear  as  if  God 
took  occasion  to  reward,  even  on  earth,  His  servant's 
great  devotion  to  the  Divine  Mother,  by  asserting 
through  the  Council  the  greatest  of  the  prerogatives 
attached  to  the  Primacy,  namely,  the  Pope's  infalli- 
bility in  confirming  his  brethren  in  the  Faith,  and  in 
feeding  with  moral  precepts  the  lambs  and  sheep  con- 
fided to  his  care  by  his  Divine  Master. 

Let  this  much  suflfrce  concerning  the  virtue  of  charity, 
viewed  in  both  its  divine  and  human  aspects,  as  il- 
lustrated in  the  person  of  Pius  IX. 

4. — FOBTITUDE. 

Let  me  mention  another  virtue  characteristic  of  our 
Holy  Father,  and  then  I  will  conclude.  Perhaps  in 
one  of  so  mild  and  gentle  a  disposition  as  was  Pius 
IX.  the  severer  virtues  could  scarcely  be  expected  to 
exist  to  any  considerable  degree;  yet,  when  the  cause 
of  Eeligion  demanded  it,  he  displayed  a  firmness 
which  compared  favorably  with  that  of  any  of  his  pre- 
decessors, not  excepting  Gregory  the  Great.  Though 
ready,  willing,  even  anxious  to  conform  and  to  make 
all  necessary  and  useful  concessions  to  the  just  re- 
quirements of  the  times;  still,  when  irreligion,  infidel- 
ity, injustice,  invasion,  robbery,  oppression,  under 
the  guise  of  progress,  civilization  and  liberty,  sought 
to  secure  his  alliance  to  their  covert  schemes,  he  de- 
tected their  plans  and  scouted  their  offers.  And,  when 
later  they  cast  off  their  disguise  and  threatened  to 
victimize  and  destroy  him  unless  he  yielded  to  their 


SO  PERSONAL  REMINISCENCES 

ungodly  desires  and  demands,  he  calmly,  firmly  and 
fearlessly  answered  them:  " Non  possumiis" — We 
cannot  betray  our  sacred  trust,  or  be  induced  by 
seductive  promises  or  merciless  threats  to  sacrifice  the 
cause  of  religion,  truth,  justice  and  morality, — the 
safe-guards  of  the  human  race  in  time  and  its  passport 
to  a  blissful  eternity.  When  all  earthly  source  of 
hope  seemed  closed,  that  old  man  stood  firm,  and  with 
unwavering  accent  continued  to  utter:  "We  cannot, 
we  cannot."  Those  words  were  the<  expression  of  his 
strength.  His  fierce,  defiant  and  menacing  foes  chafed 
with  demoniac  rage  at  the  souna  of  his  voice,  ^and 
they  rushed  headlong  in  the  attempt  to  smother  and 
silence  it. 

Victory  seems  to  have  lighted  on  their  lurid  banners; 
but  their  triumph  is  only  a  seeming  one.  Their  hopes 
are  vain:  their  efforts  futile:  their  success  shortlived 
and  doomed  to  ultimate  and  speedy  defeat;  and  the 
senseless  originators  of  these  proceedings,  with  their 
deluded  associates,  will  reap  chagrin,  remorse,  con- 
fusion. They  are  rushing  madly  into  a  vortex  of  irre- 
trievable ruin,  of  woe  unutterable.  The  Church  will 
arise  phenix-like,  clothed  with  immortal  youth  and 
smiling  serenely  on  the  crumbling  ruins  of  human 
pride  and  audacity  around  her.  Her  Supreme  Pontiff 
will  stand  firmly  on  the  unshaken  Bock  of  Peter,  view- 
ing the  calm,  and  will  fearlessly  witness  subsequent 
storms  gathering,  and  new  waves  rearing  their  angry 
crests,  confident  that  they  too  will  vainly  spend  their 
fury  and  that  other  calms  will  ensue,  to  give  as  it  were 
breathing  time  for  the  next  onset.  Thus  throughout 
time  will  each  trial  of  the  Holy  See  be  succeeded  by  a 
new  triumph,  till  the  Supreme  Head,  Christ  Jesus, 
shall  command  the  eternal  calm. 


OF  POPE  PIUS  IX.  91 

VALE! 

I  have  drawn,  in  faintest  traces,  the  outlines  of  some 
of  the  most  striking  and  prominent  features  of  the 
person,  character  and  virtues  of  our  Holy  Father 
Pius.  I  leave  to  others  possessed  of  sufficient  pene- 
trative, appreciative  and  descriptive  powers  (if  there 
be  any  such)  the  task  of  producing  the  portrait  in  its 
completeness.  If  any  such  work  be  ever  achieved,  it 
will  hold  up  to  the  admiration,  esteem  and  love  of 
men  one  of  the  most  noble  and  devoted  of  God's 
servants, — for  he  was  truly  a  saint, — and  one  of  the 
most  sincere  and  zealous  among  the  benefactors  of  our 
race;  for  he  spent  his  energies  and  his  life  for  us. 
Nor  had  he  ever  a  personal  enemy,  even  among  those 
who  sought  the  overthrow  of  his  sacred  Office. 

God,  too,  in  an  extraordinary  manner  made  known 
on  earth  His  complacence  with  him.  Of  the  long  list 
of  Popes  since  St.  Peter,  Pius  IX.  alone  was  spared 
through  a  reign  of  twenty-five  years.  It  was  not 
natural  to  expect  it.  His  pontificate  was  begun  rather 
late  in  life, — in  the  fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His  was 
an  eventful  and  laborious  life.  Cross  and  trial  and 
opposition  and  persecution  were  his  lot, — such  as 
would  naturally  have  soon  worn  out  an  old  man.  But 
God  sustained  him  through  it  all,  and,  in  the  thirty- 
first  year  of  his  reign  and  the  eighty-fifth  of  his  age, 
he  still  survived,  with  great  bodily  vigor,  mental  facul- 
ties unimpaired  and  his  many  virtues  alive,  green, 
active  and  fruitful  as  ever. — In  that  year  the  holocaust, 
to  God  and  to  God's  children  on  earth,  was  consum- 
mated. 

The  Holy  Father  had  survived  those  who  had  op- 
posed and  those  w1  ' "  ^  Mm  so  long  in 


32  PERSONAL  REMINSCENCEti. 

his  endeavors  to  guard  and  advance  the  interests  of 
the^Church.  Napoleon,  Victor  Emanuel,  Cavour,  La 
Marmora,  and  a  host  of  others,  (leagued  together 
for  the  purpose  of  despoiling  the  Church  of  her 
sacred  patrimony),  had  entered  on  their  final  ac- 
counting; and  Pius  the  Ninth's  intimate,  long-tried, 
trusted  and  devoted  attendants,  such  as  Patrizzi  in 
the  spiritual  order  and  Antonelli  in  the  temporal, 
had  gone  to  enjoy  their  reward  and  to  usher  him  into 
heaven. 

We  should  not  grieve,  beloved  friends,  at  his  taking 
away,  but  should  rather  rejoice;  for  he  is  happy,  the 
Church  is  well  provided  for,  and  his  further  detention 
on  earth  would  have  been  overburdening  an  already 
overworked  and  worn-out  old  servant  of  God  and  God's 
people,  and  withholding  from  him  the  well-merited 
reward  of  his  brilliant  virtues  and  protracted  and 
onerous  labors. 

We  may  pray  for  him;  and,  while  we  pray  for  him, 
let  us  hope  to  enlist  his  prayers  that  we  may  all  meet 
our  Holy  Father  Pius  in  heaven. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY— TEL.  NO.  642-3405 
This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


AN  5  -70  -3PM 


1976 


BBC.  CIR.  APR 


LD21A-60m-6,'69 
(J9096slO)476-A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


Stockton,  Calif. 
PAT.  JAN.  21.  1908 


939875 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


